I always found the 11 point dividers handy for the AEO problem!!
Also handy (the dividers, not the AEO) in the old MR1 Sim for hanging off the metal part of the call light. Get it to arc in the correct way and it guaranteed the best part of an hour in the coffee bar while they re-tightened all the elastic bands in the computers that ran the thing.
Now if you want a funny MK1 AEO story, how about the very first nestor fit?
AEOs were ideal Nestor operators: the one person on the crew who would not be missed once the Tac Checks Outbound had been read.
As if to prove the point there was the AEO who changed the MAR tape mid sortie then proceeded to 'address' it on what he thought was Tac intercom but was in fact Box 2 set on ASWAC Primary: "This tape is classified SECRET. GIB Green 025, 15th May 1977, xxxSqn Crew x, Flt Lt xxxxxxxx, etc, etc".
When he finished there was a stunned silence, broken only by the voice of 'Roget Wait Y'all' on the JFK, to whom we were providing Direct Support at the time: "Gee Sir, was that all for me?"
